Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1369 on coordinated demand-reduction measures for gas

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2022/1369 - adopted by the Council of the European Union on 5 August 2022 - aimed at improving the coordination framework for national gas demand reduction measures in case of severe disruption of gas supply from Russia.

Further information:

The supply of gas from Russia increasingly registered disruption since 2021, a move understood as a deliberate attempt to use energy as a political weapon. This was further exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A number of Member States of the European Union (EU)  had to engage in crisis action, and the supply shock also had an impact on the price of gas, price of electricity, inflation, and the overall EU financial and macroeconomic stability.

This Regulation establishes rules to address a situation of severe difficulties in the supply of gas, with a view to safeguarding EU security of gas supply, in a spirit of solidarity. Those rules include improved coordination, monitoring of and reporting on national gas demand-reduction measures and the possibility for the Council to declare, on a proposal from the European Commission, a Union alert as an EU-specific crisis level, triggering a mandatory EU-wide demand-reduction obligation.

The draft law was tabled by the European Commission on 20 July 2022 as part of its Safe Gas for a Safe Winter package, which was given an overview by an accompanying Communication. Member States reached a political agreement on a compromise text for this file on 26 July. The Act was formally adopted by the Council on 5 August 2022 and published in the Official Journal on 8 August.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

Deutsche Welle, 26/07/2022: EU deal to reduce consumption highlights divisions within the bloc https://p.dw.com/p/4EfAW

Politico: Opinion, 26/07/2022: Europe needs energy solidarity — not a North-South rift https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-needs-energy-solidarity-not-north-south-rift/

EUI: Florence School of Regulation (FSR): News, 28/07/2022: A first look at ‘Save gas for a safe winter’: The EU’s fast-tracked proposal for protecting against a disconnection from Russian gas https://fsr.eui.eu/a-first-look-at-save-gas-for-a-safe-winter-the-eus-fast-tracked-proposal-for-protecting-against-a-disconnection-from-russian-gas/

The Economist, 28/07/2022: The EU agrees on an energy diet to fight Russian gas cuts https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/07/28/the-eu-agrees-on-an-energy-diet-to-fight-russian-gas-cuts

ING Think: Article, 28/07/2022: A full stop to Russian gas could plunge Europe into a full-blown recession https://think.ing.com/articles/a-full-stop-to-russian-gas-could-plunge-europe-into-recession/

Foreign Policy: Analysis, 10/08/2022: Germany’s Frantic Push to Reduce Gas Consumption https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/08/10/germany-gas-russia-war-ukraine-consumption-energy-eu-deal-targets/

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News

Politico, 20/07/2022: Cut gas use by 15 percent, Brussels tells EU countries https://www.politico.eu/article/commission-publishe-gas-demand-reduction-plan/

EUObserver, 20/07/2022: EU Commission set to unveil gas-reduction plan https://euobserver.com/green-economy/155591

RFE/RL, 20/07/2022: EU Proposes 15 Percent Cut In Gas Consumption To Offset Russian 'Blackmail' https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-cut-gas-consumption-russian-blackmail/31952009.html

Reuters, 21/07/2022: Spain says it will not order consumers to limit gas consumption https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/spain-says-it-will-not-order-consumers-limit-gas-consumption-2022-07-21/

EurActiv, 21/07/2022: Spain rejects Commission’s plan to reduce gas consumption https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/spain-rejects-commissions-plan-to-reduce-gas-consumption/

Politico, 21/07/2022: Southern rebellion threatens to sink EU gas rationing plan https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-portugal-spain-syprus-greece-rebellion-eu-gas-rationing-rules/

Reuters, 25/07/2022: France against uniform targets on gas consumption reduction in Europe https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-against-uniform-targets-gas-consumption-reduction-europe-2022-07-25/

Euronews, 26/07/2022: Energy ministers reach deal on EU-wide 15% gas reduction plan https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/07/26/energy-ministers-reach-deal-on-eu-wide-gas-reduction-plan

EurActiv, 26/07/2022: EU-27 approves demand gas reduction plan after power struggle with Brussels https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/eu-27-approves-demand-gas-reduction-plan-after-power-struggle-with-brussels/

The Guardian, 26/07/2022: EU agrees plan to ration gas use over Russia supply fears https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jul/26/eu-agrees-plan-to-reduce-gas-use-over-russia-supply-fears

Bloomberg, 26/07/2022: EU Nations Back 15% Gas-Cut Target as Russia Reduces Flows https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-26/eu-nations-reach-agreement-to-reduce-gas-use-for-next-winter#xj4y7vzkg

BBC News, 26/07/2022: EU allows get-out clause in Russian gas cut deal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62305094

Kathimerini, 26/07/2022: Greek PM to propose EU gas reduction for industries https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1189872/greek-pm-to-propose-eu-gas-reduction-for-industries/

Deutsche Welle, 26/07/2022: EU energy ministers reach deal on emergency gas plan https://p.dw.com/p/4Ee2M

Politico, 26/07/2022: The EU’s gas-rationing plan faces a haircut https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-gas-rationing-plan-expected-to-pass/

ERR News, 26/07/2022: EU ministers reach agreement to reduce natural gas consumption 15 percent https://news.err.ee/1608667666/eu-ministers-reach-agreement-to-reduce-natural-gas-consumption-15-percent

EUObserver, 26/07/2022: EU ministers struggle over 15% gas-cut plan https://euobserver.com/ukraine/155627

YLE News, 26/07/2022: EU ministers agree to gas reduction plans — Finland has already cut back https://yle.fi/news/3-12551752

Associated Press (AP News), 26/07/2022: EU agrees to cut natural gas use amid Russian supply fears https://apnews.com/article/russia-europe-natural-gas-31a7bda2e8498859ef46557d7103eddb

EurActiv, 27/07/2022: France calls EU gas reduction plan an ‘additional step’ for EU solidarity https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/france-calls-eu-gas-reduction-plan-an-additional-step-for-eu-solidarity/

Reuters, 28/07/2022: Poland wants right to block EU plan to reduce gas demand, PM says https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/poland-wants-right-block-eu-plan-reduce-gas-demand-pm-says-2022-07-28/

The Guardian, 29/07/2022: Doors shut, ties ditched: what are EU countries doing to save energy? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/29/russian-gas-crisis-how-are-european-countries-trying-to-save-energy

Euronews, 29/07/2022: What is the EU doing to cut energy consumption and avoid blackouts this winter? https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/07/29/what-is-the-eu-doing-to-cut-energy-consumption-and-avoid-blackouts-this-winter

Interfax, 05/08/2022: Council of EU adopts regulation cutting gas use by 15% https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/82006/

Novinite.com, 06/08/2022: Hungary and Poland are Against the EU's Plan to Reduce Gas Consumption https://www.novinite.com/articles/216195/Hungary+and+Poland+are+Against+the+EU%27s+Plan+to+Reduce+Gas+Consumption

EurActiv, 08/08/2022: EU plan to cut gas use by 15% set to come into effect https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/eu-plan-to-cut-gas-use-by-15-set-to-come-into-effect/

Deutsche Welle, 09/08/2022: EU's emergency gas plan comes into force https://p.dw.com/p/4FIKT

Delano, 09/08/2022: EU gas reduction regulation now in force https://delano.lu/article/eu-gas-reduction-regulation-no

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Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2022)361: Proposal for a Council Regulation on coordinated demand reduction measures for gas https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2022:361:FIN

European Commission: DG Energy: Topics: Secure gas supplies https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-security/secure-gas-supplies_en

General Secretariat of the Council: Policies: Energy prices and security of supply https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/energy-prices/

European Commission: Press Release, 20/07/2022: Save Gas for a Safe Winter: Commission proposes gas demand reduction plan to prepare EU for supply cuts https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_4608

European Commission: Questions and Answers on the EU ”Save Gas for a Safe Winter” Plan (20 July 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_4609

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen on the ‘Save gas for a safe winter' Package (20 July 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_22_4626

European Commission: Opening remarks by Executive Vice-President Timmermans, Commissioner Simson and Commissioner Breton at the press conference on the Save Gas for a Safe Winter package (20 July 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_4631

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 26/07/2022: Member states commit to reducing gas demand by 15% next winter https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/07/26/member-states-commit-to-reducing-gas-demand-by-15-next-winter/

European Commission: Statement by the President of the European Commission following the political agreement on the Council Regulation on coordinated demand reduction measures for gas (26 July 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_22_4725

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 26/07/2022: Exemptions to winter gas reduction plans weaken EU's unity https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/news/exemptions-to-winter-gas-reduction-plans-weaken-eu-s-unity

Irish Government: Press Release, 26/07/2022: Ireland welcomes EU commitment to reduce gas demand for next winter as Member States show solidarity https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/69e01-ireland-welcomes-eu-commitment-to-reduce-gas-demand-for-next-winter-as-member-states-show-solidarity/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 05/08/2022: Council adopts regulation on reducing gas demand by 15% this winter https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/08/05/council-adopts-regulation-on-reducing-gas-demand-by-15-this-winter/

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